Holly Bush poorly?

Hi folks. Wondered if anyone can tell me what is wrong with our holly bush please? It has always been very dense with lovely green leaves inside and out. However all the leaves inside the bush have disappeared over the past few months leaving just the leaves on the end of the stems/branches. I’ve never seen it like this before and am wondering if this years heat has been the culprit? I did water it over summer but not all that regularly. It is laden with far more fruit this year than previously and, at first, we thought it was just that with the energy all going into the berries. However, it seems stuck now, looking as it does. Can anyone help please ? Thanks.

 

It doesn't look too bad at present.
Assuming it's not a lack of water over the summer, then I wonder about the white stones that are surrounding it.
If they are some sort of limestone, then they will make the soil beneath very alkaline. That will prevent your holly taking up many nutrients and could be the cause.
If the stones are not limestone of some sort, then a drench with sequestered iron may help.

 

Thanks @pete for that. I’ll ask OH. When we got it it was classed as just ordinary ( cream);gravel.. I agree it doesn’t look too bad from a distance and what green leaves there are, seem to be ok. Its just the lack of leaves all the way down the stem, barring at the ends, that concern me.

 

I think this is a natural thing to happen.
Holly is evergreen...but that does not mean the leaves are everlasting.
The holly has grown and the old inner leaves have died and dropped off I suspect.
This is what happens to any holly.

Just check that the gravel is not too deep at the base.
I would predfer to see composted bark at the base rather than white/cream gravel...but that is just a personal thing.

 

It wasn't me,

 

The limestone chips are often sold as Cotswold Cream chippings or similar. They are not as hard as pebbles/stones. Rain is slightly acidic so reacts with the limestone leaving an alkaline soil beneath. Holly prefers slightly acidic soil.
You could test by putting a bit in a glass then adding vinegar - if you see bubbles forming then it's limestone.
If they're not limestone, then I'd agree with @Silver surfer thoughts.

 

I've gotten rid of the holly trees I had purely because I hated getting stabbed by all those dead leaves on the ground.

And I like spiky plants but holly and gorse are two I've given up on.

Yours doesn't look practically prickly though.

 

Sorry @pete ! sorry @Pete8 ! The holly isn’t particularly prickly.
Thanks @Silver surfer . Will have a look at all suggestions and will start by removing the gravel( yes, Pete, it’s cotswold cream) tomorrow and digging the ground over.

 

Please do not dig the ground you will sever any shallow roots.
Just remove gravel, water well and cover with deep layer of bark...but not touching the trunk!

 

Oh, OK @Silver surfer , won’t dig over.

 

The white chips will reflect some of the heat back up too in a hot summer. Hollies are naturally understory trees so I agree with Silver surfer.

 

Thanks @Baalmaiden . All comments are very much appreciated.